Western Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys at Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C. (https://www.lgkg.com/informed-consent-and-medical-malpractice-laws) explain the legal significance of informed consent in medical malpractice cases. Patients have the right to receive detailed information about medical procedures, including potential risks and alternative treatments. When a doctor fails to provide this information and a patient suffers harm, the legal consequences can be serious.
Informed consent requires physicians to explain the purpose, expected outcomes, risks, and benefits of medical procedures. Western Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys emphasize that failing to obtain informed consent can lead to legal claims if the patient can prove they would have declined the procedure had they been properly informed. Pennsylvania law follows the reasonable patient standard, meaning the court evaluates whether an average patient would have made a different decision if given full disclosure.
The legal team at Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C. highlights that informed consent is required for surgeries, anesthesia, radiation therapy, blood transfusions, chemotherapy, and experimental procedures. Western Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys stress that physicians must also discuss alternative treatment options and allow patients to ask questions before making a decision. If a doctor does not meet these requirements and the patient experiences harm, a medical malpractice claim may arise.
Pennsylvania’s Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act governs medical malpractice claims related to informed consent. Physicians are responsible for ensuring patients understand the risks and alternatives before proceeding with a treatment plan. A 2017 Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in *Shinal v. Toms* confirmed that the physician performing the procedure must be the one to obtain consent, reinforcing the importance of direct communication between doctor and patient.
Exceptions to informed consent exist in emergency situations where immediate medical intervention is necessary to prevent serious harm. However, in all other cases, failing to properly inform the patient can result in liability for medical malpractice. Patients who suffer harm due to a lack of informed consent may have the right to pursue compensation.
A spokesperson for Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C. stated, “Informed consent is a fundamental patient right. When a doctor fails to disclose critical information about a procedure, patients are deprived of their ability to make informed medical decisions. Pennsylvania law protects individuals in these situations by allowing them to seek compensation if they can prove the lack of informed consent caused them harm.”
Western Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys at Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C. underscore that proving an informed consent violation requires demonstrating that the missing information would have influenced the patient’s decision. Courts evaluate each case using the reasonable patient standard, focusing on whether a typical patient would have made a different choice if fully informed.
Elements of informed consent include a detailed explanation of the procedure, a discussion of risks and benefits, a presentation of alternative treatments, an identification of the physician performing the procedure, and the opportunity for patients to ask questions. Pennsylvania law requires that patients understand not only the medical aspects but also the potential consequences of proceeding or declining treatment.
Financial and insurance considerations, while not legally required for informed consent, may also be beneficial for patients to understand. Western Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys advise that being informed about costs, insurance coverage, and potential out-of-pocket expenses can help patients make fully educated decisions about their medical care.
Patients who believe they underwent a procedure without proper informed consent and suffered harm should consider their legal options. Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C. provides representation for individuals seeking justice in medical malpractice cases. The firm’s legal team is committed to advocating for patients’ rights and holding medical professionals accountable when they fail to meet their obligations.
Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C. has built a reputation for representing clients in medical malpractice cases. The firm is dedicated to helping individuals harmed by medical negligence seek the compensation they deserve. Those who believe they have experienced a lack of informed consent before a medical procedure are encouraged to seek legal guidance.
About Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C.:
Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C. is a law firm serving Western Pennsylvania, representing clients in medical malpractice, personal injury, and other legal matters. With a long history of securing favorable outcomes for clients, the firm is dedicated to advocating for individuals who have suffered harm due to negligence.
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